Paper-box-folding machine



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PAPER BOX FOLDING MACHINE 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2 F1 LED MAY I0.

Feb. 6, 1923.

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L. E. LA BOMBARD ET AL PAPER BOX FOLDING MACHINE Fl LED MAY l0, l 920 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5 INVENTORS 'ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 6,' i923.

Meade? LEON E. LA BOMBARD, OF CHELSEA, AND MELVIN H. SIDEBOTHAM, 0F CLIFTONDALE MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS T0 SPECIALTY AUTOMATIC MACHINE COMPANY OE CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS. l

PAPER-BOX-FOLDING MACHINE.

Application filed May 10, 1920. `Serial No. 380,326.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LEON E. LA BOM- isAim, a citizen of the. United States, and resident of Chelsea, in the county of Suffolk, State of- Massachusetts, and MiiLvIN H. SIDEBOTHAM, a citizen ofthe United States, and resident of Cliftondale, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Box-Folding Machines, of which the following is a. specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of boxes and has particular reference to machines for converting creased paper or pasteboard blanks into fiat folded boxes frequently referred to as cartons. i

At present the majority of paper box folding machines in use are of the type known as rotary because all of the moving parts travel continuously, the blanks being carried through the machine by endless belts. Owing to the fact that each blank is operated upon progressively'as it travels, machines of this type necessarily occupy considerablel space lengthwise. One of the objects oftliepresent invention is to provide for the folding 'of the blanks during alesser amount of travel than heretofore, thereby reducing the length of the machine and the amount of floor space occupied thereby.

Machines of this type include upper and lowei` belts, and elongated members usually called shoes which are in line with the inpper belts and bear on the blanks and hold them in contact with the lower belts, the latter being longer than the upper belts. Provisions are made for laterally adjusting the belts and shoes and other cooperating parts to enable the machine to fold blanks of varying widths. Heretofore the superstructure which carries the upper belts and the alined bearing members has occupied such space as t0 be an obstacle that interferes with access to the mechanism. below it, and it is also in the way if occasion arises for access to blanks or mechanism under it. Therefore another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the necessary superstructure prese-nts a. minimumobstacle. ln attaining this object we piovidea single point of suspension for each of the two inpper belts and its alined bearing member, and also provide for independent adjustment of each of said belts with its said alined member.

Then two lower belts are employed, as is customary when a wide range of width adjustment is to be provided for, it is important that both shall travel with exactly the same speed since otherwise the blanks would tend to travel askew. In this connection another feature of t-he invention consists in the provision-of means for preventing any possibility of either of the two lower belts slipping relatively to its driving mechanism.. i Another feature of the invention consists in the provision of means for effecting passageA of the folded boxes to the usual final rolls which comlpress the overlapped glued seams without giving an opportunity for any box to spring open due to the glue not being sufficiently dry.

In machines of the character referred to, employing belts which effect the final folding of the blanks, accurate work can not be effected if such belts fail to travel in predetermined courses. Another feature of our invention therefore resides in improved means for so directing or guiding the operative stretches of the belts as to enable blanks of widely different character to be properly folded.

Owing to the high speed of operation of machines of this type, the overlapping portions of the blanks which form the glued seams of the boxes sometimes spring apart as the articles pass from the folding mechanism to the usual final presser and stacker mechanisms, because the glue has not had time to set sufficiently to hold.` To pre vent such parting of the glued seams is another object of our invention. To this end, a feature of our present improvements consists in a finger which projects beyond the delivery end of the folding mechanism and is in position to bear upon the seam portions of the boxes so that said portions can not open as the boxes pass to the final presser and stacker devices which are always in immediate juxtaposition to thedelivery end of the folding mechanism.

The above and other features of the in- Figures 4 and 5 represent sections on` lines 4-4 and 5-5 respectively, of Figure 2. Figure 6 is a detail side elevation of our improved blank holding finger or shoe.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the same and a portion of the adjacent folding belt.

Figure 8 is a detail elevation of t-he bearing member which is shown in Figure 1 as cooperating with the other folding belt.

Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 are sectional views to illustrate the action of the folding belts on a blank as it progresses through the machine.

F igure 13 is a detail plan View of a preferred mounting of certain pulleys to direct,

the right hand folding belt in a predetermined course.

Figure 14 is a detail elevation of the parts shown in Figure 13. Figure 15 represents a section on line 15-15 of Figure 13.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of the seam controlling finger employed at the delivery end of the machine.

Figure 17 is a sectional elevation of a modification hereinafter described.

Similar reference characters indicate simi-l lar parts in all of the views.

The frame of the machine comprises side bars 20 connected by suitable tie rods one of which is indicated at 21 and also connected by, or supportin tWo bars 22, 23, one near each end of the rame. At the delivery end of the machine (it being understood that blanks travel in the direction of the arrow near the center of Figure 1) the side bars 20 are provided with uprights 24.

Two lower belts 25, running from one end tothe other of the folding machine, are mounted at one end on pulleys carried by shaft 26 (Fig. 2) and at the other end on ulleys 27 (Figure 3) carried by shaft 28.

rom the pulleys 27 the belts 25 pass over, and about half way around large pulleys 29 (Figs. 2 and 5) carried by a shaft 30.

' The shafts 30 and 28 are both driven as hereinafter described, so that their pulleys which are splined thereon to permit lateral adjustment, will frictionally grip and drive both belts at equal s eed and hold their upper stretches taut. he reason for employlng small pulleys 27 and the large pulleys 29, instead of making the pulleys 27 large enough to provide an equivalent frictional driving grip on the belts, is that with any such large pulleys on shaft 28 it wouldhe` impossible to locate the usual receiving rolls or belts (not shown) close enough to the point where the boxes leave the control of the belts 25, to take small boxes and keep control of them as they pass to the usual presser and stacker (not shown). Hence the pulleys 27 are comparatively small. As will be hereinafter explained the large pulleys 29 are so driven as to have a peripheral speed slightly exceeding that` of the end pulleys of the belts so as to act as snubbers to keep'th'e belts in frictional contact with their supporting pulleys and hold their upper stretches under strong ten-A sion and consequently taut.

From the large pulleys 29, each belt 25 passes under a tightener pulley 3l carried by an -arm 32' pivotally supported at 33 and held in adjusted position by a brace rod 34 connected to the frame and having a slot 35 through which a clamp bolt 36 passes into the arm.

The upper stretches ofthe belts 25 travel on rolls 37 supported by cages or bars 38 (Figs. 2, 4 and 5). Near one end each of the two cages 38 is connected to and supported by a lug or casting 39 mounted to slide on the cross bar 22 (Fig. 5) and near the other end each cage is connected to and supported by a lug or casting 40 (Fig. 4)

mounted to slide on the cross bar 23. Each lug or casting has in linternally threaded ear 41 through which a screw shaft 42 passes. A sprocket chain 43 (Figs. 1 and 2) at each side of the machine connects sprocket wheels carried by the two screw shafts on that side. Two of the screw shafts have handles 44. By means of the handles 44 either of the pair of shafts on one side or the other of theI machine may be rotated to effect lateral adjustment of a roll cage 38. By means of connections not necessary to describe in detail, since the mechanism for lateral adjustment is not claimed herein, the belt )ulleys are splined to their shafts and are s ifted along said shafts when the roll cages are shifted. As an obvious alternative, since both adjusting mechanisms are old and well"know n, the four shafts 42 m1ght be two shafts, each one right-andleft-handthreaded, so that thetwo roll cages and the two belts 25 can be simu! taneously adjusted toward or from the midwidth of the machine.

Blanks to be folded are fed to the belts 25 at the right in. Figures 1 and 2 and pass under a pair of narrowl belts 54. To hold the lower stretches of said belts on the blanks, frame bars 45 carrying presser rolls 46 are provided. Each frame 45 is rigidly connected at one end to a strong bracket 47 (Figs. 2 and4) having a lateral portion 48 bracket 47 at that side of the machine mayy be laterally adjusted independently ofA any adj ust-ment which has been given to the casting 40, and such adjustment is maintained by clamp screws 53. As will be presently explained, the two brackets 47 carry the entire superstruotural mechanism which includes the upperv carrying or feeding belts 54 and the holding shoes alined therewith.

Each belt 54 is mounted on four pulleys 55, 56, 57, 58 (Fig. 2) all of which are so connected with a frame bar 45 as to be lat erally adjusted with itby manipulating a screw 51. 55 is provided with a gear 60 meshing with a gear 61 carried by shaft 26, whereby the upper belts 54 are driven. 1

The forward ends of the frame bars 45 are laterally braced by rods 62 (Figs. 1 and 2) extending from lugs 63 of the brackets 47 to said forward ends.

The pulleys 57 are carried by arms 64 of the brackets 47, said arms being adjustable by any usual means to cause the pulleys to keep the `belts 54 taut.

As the blanks are carried along by the coaction of the belts 25, 54, the portions which project laterally beyond the grip of the belts are turned up by two inclined folder rods 65 each of which is adjustable. As indicated in Figure 2, each rod has a shank 66 held in a clamp 67 carried by a short rod 68 which is held on a double clamp 69, 70, the latter being mounted on a pin 71 projecting from cage bar 38. These supporting connections are omitted from Figure 1 to avoidl confusion of illustration.

1n alinement with the right-hand belt 54 (the upper one in Figure 1) is a bar or frame 72 in-which are mounted yieldingly supported rolls 73 (Figs. 8, 9, and 10). At one end the frame 72 is connected to the right-hand bar 45. At an intermediate point it ma be supported by an arm 74 adjustably he d in a clamp 75 which in turn is adjustably mounted on a vertical pin 76 rising from a plate 77 projecting laterally from the right-hand cage bar 38 (Fig. 5). Secured to the tip of the bar or frame 72 is a thin flat finger 78 (Figs. 8 and 11) to aid in keepingcontrol of the blanks while they are acted upon by the folding belts hereinafter described.

In alinement with the left-hand lelt v54, and scctired so as to be carried by the lefthand bar 45, is an elongated roll cage (Figs. l and 2) comprising upper and lower strips TSL Ht). which are laterally inclinedat an (Iii) angle of approximately 45 degrees (Figs. 6, 7, 9 and 10). Idly mounted on pins or axles whichA connect thettwo strips are tapered rolls 81'which, at their larger ends, have quite sharp edges over which the blanks are folded as hereinafter described. The cage as a whole may be additionally stiffened by rivets 82 (Fig. 6) or `other suitable connections between the upper and lower strips. rlhe series or row of, tapered rolls 81, supported in any suitable manner in position to coact with the other parts of the machine in guiding the blanks and determining by their sharp edges the correct line of fold of the blanks, constitutes an important feature of our invention. Its function in operation will be described hereinafter. We do not limit ourselves to its use only as illustrated. A sim- `ilar device may be employed in place of the The shaft 59 of the two pulleys frame 72 with its cylindrical rolls, and in fact it is useful in any machine wherein it is desirable to fold box blanks inwardly beyond upright positions and keep control of the blanks with little 0r no friction thereon.

Preferably, although not necessary in all machines, we employ a thin flat finger 83 (Figs. 7, 8 and 11) secured to the tip of the roll cage 79, 80, for the same purpose as that explained in connection with the finger 78.

Projecting laterally from the left-hand cage bar 38 is a plate 84 (Figs. 1, 2 and 5) similar to the plate 77. Said plates are, of course, laterally adjusted with the cage bars 38. The folding belts which we will now describe are guided by means carried by the plates 77, 84.

The right-hand folding belt 85 is 1n`ounted at one end on a pulley 86 carried by! a driven shaft 87 (l igs. 1 and`3) having a gear 88 meshing with a gear 89 carried by shaft 28 (Fig. 2). At the other end said belt is mounted on a flanged idle pulley 90 (Fig. 1) which is adjustably supported by a double-clamp connection 91 with a pin 92 rising from plate 77.

At intermediate points between the end pulleys 86, 90, the lower stretch of the folder belt 85, which is the operative stretch, is engaged by a plurality of idly rotating guiding pulleys. ln the structure illustrated in Figure 1 there are four such intermediate pulleys, each of them being supported on a. pin rising from plate 77` a double-clamp connection similar to that for pulley 90 being employed to enable each of them to be independently adjusted. Of these pulleys the rst two, 93 and, 94, are mounted to rotate in horizontal planes and have flanges which extend under the belt to support it and direct its travel in a. predetermined plane according to the size and character of the blanks to be folded. rIhe third and fourth pulleys 95 and 96 rotate in vertical planes. s each of the four pulleys (or more if desired in the machine) is universally adjustable the operative stretch of the belt can be caused to follow such course that at different portions of the travel of each blank the portion thereof engaged by the belt will be bent in more or less and be engaged higher up or lower down, for reasons which will be explained hereinafter.

The left-hand folding belt 97 is mounted at one end on a pulley 98 carried by the shaft 87 and at the other end on a flanged pulley 99 (Figs. 1, 2 and 7). At intermediate points the lower and operative stretch of said belt is engaged by a plurality of flanged pulleys 100, 101, 102. Each of the pulleys 99 to 102 is supported by a doubleclamp connection with a pin rising from plate 84 so as to be universally adjustable like the pulleys 90 and 93 for belt 85. It is to be understood of course that there may be as many of the intermediate pulleys to guide the two folding that either of those illustrated may be entirely removed should the character of the work to be done render a lesser number 'desirable.

At the delivery end of the machine (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) is a curved finger 103 projecting from a hub or block 104 adjustably mounted on a rod 105 mounted in bearings in the frame uprights 24, said rod having at one end an arm 106 which is ac'ted upon by a spring 107 whereby'the finger 103, which projects beyond the pulleys 86, 27, and preferably above one of the belts 25 and beside one of the narrower folding belts, is caused to bear yieldingly on portions of the blanks after they pass beyond the nip of said belts.' 4o T he purpose of said finger, which can be adjusted to any lateral position will be presently explained.

As the particular gear and drive mecha- `nism forms no part of the present invention, so much of it as is illustrated will be sufficient without a detailed description thereof. In operation, blanks whichvare longitudinally creased as usual are singly and successively supplied by any preferred feeding mechanism to the nip of belts 25, 54, said feeding mechanism being in proper lateral position to so deliver the blanks that the two creased lines on which they are to be folded will pass just outside the outer edges of the belts 54. By means of the screw shafts 42, general adjustment to suit the width of the blanks is effected. This adjustment alone however can not always be relied upon to ensure correct action when the margins of the blanks are turned up by the inclined folder rods 65, because the blanks employed to fill different orders vary reatly in quality, and some needto be held down by the upper belts 54 along locations closer to the crease lines than others. rlhe 4disassemble its parts.

belts as desired; also i fact that each belt 54, with its supporting pulleys and pressure rolls is carried by a single bracket 47 which is adjustable by means of its screw 51, enables a very fine adjustment to be made that will ensure correct breaking of the blank on its crease lines, such independent adjustment being effected according to the character of the blanks. lf

it becomes necessary to gain access to the machine below, either or both of these two superstructures can be adjusted well aside or even entirely removed without having to This is due to each having but a single point of suspension or support, which also permits of-fine inde- 80 pendent adjustment. The two carry all of the parts which act on that surface of each blank which becomes the inside of the box, includingr the cage frame, rolls, and thin fingers shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8.

In Figures 9 to 12 no attempt has been made to illustrate the usual four crease lines.. of the blanks, as only two of them are utilized in the operation of the present machine. The only reason for the blanks, in practice, having four parallel crease lines is because the boxes are to be later opened or set up to rectangular form when they are to be filled. For present purposes it will simplify description to refer to the blanks or boxes as comprising body portions a having flap portions b and c.

Just before each blank reaches the inclined folder rods 65, its flap b receives a stripe of glue Z from a wheel 108 (see dotted lines in Fig. 2) which is rotated in a glue box 109 by mechanism not necessary to describe herein. Then as the blank proceeds its two fiaps b, c, are turned up or broken on their crease lines to substantially vert-ical positions so as to then pass inside the pulleys 90, 99, (Fig. 1). The inner edges of the folder' belts 97, 85, now engage the outer surfaces of the flaps (Fig. 9) but the guiding pulleys for said belts are so positioned that the latter bear on the flaps so farv above the crease lines as to exert only an inward holding or bending pressure with little or no tendency to crowd or collapse the body of the blank such as would occur if the belts were to bear on the flaps close to the crease lines. In` some box folding machines twisted folding belts have been employed, and when such are arranged to properly bear flatwise on the blank flaps they do good work. But twisted belts bearing fiatwise on the flaps do not last as long as belts of the type shown herein, and owing to the width and length which they require for proper operation they are more expensive. )Ve have found that by employing relatively narrow folding belts which act edgewise on the flaps, they are not only less expensive and more durable than the twisted belts referred to, but can also be directed (as` by the intermechanism for Supporting blanks on their' rality of belts and means for folding blanks carried by said belts, and a pair of driven pulleys engaging opposite surfaces of each Eflsaid belts to ensure equal travel of said e ts.

3. In a folding machine having a plurality of belts and means for folding blanks carried by said belts, a small pulley within each of said belts, a large pulley adjacent to each of said small pulleys mounted in position to contact with the outer surfaces of its belt, and means for positively driving said large pulleys.

4. In a folding machine having a plurality of belts and means for folding blanks carried by said belts, apulley for supporting the delivery end of each belt, a tightener for each belt, and a driven pulley intermediate each supporting pulley and tightener in position to frictionally engage the surface of the belt. opposite to 'that which is engaged by said supporting pulley and tightener.

5. In a folding machine having travelling mechanism for supporting blanks on their Way through the machine, a pair of independent superstructures each including a` belt and supports therefor, and means for supporting each of said superstructures entirely at a single point.

6. In a folding machine having travelling mechanism for supporting blanks on their way through the machine, a pair of independent superstructures each including a c belt, supports therefor and an elongated shoe alined with the belt, and means for supporting each of said superstructures entirely at a single point.

7. In a folding machine having travelling mechanism for supporting blanks on their way through the machine, a pair of independent superstructures each including a belt, supports therefor and means for independently adjusting each of said superstructures laterally as a unit.

8. In a folding machine having travelling way through the machine, a pair of independent superstructures each including a belt, supports therefor and an elongated shoe alined With the belt, and means for independently adjusting each of said superstructures laterally asa unit..

9. A folding machine having. in combination, a pair of laterally adjustable lower belts, folding mechanism for blanks supported thereby, said folding mechanism including a pair of upper belts and rolls therefor, a single support for each upper belt and its rolls, and means for independently adjusting each of said single supports.

10. A folding machine having, in combination, a pair of laterally adjustable lower belts, folding mechanism for blanks supported thereby,said foldin mechanism including a pair of upper be ts, and shoes alined therewith, a single support for each upper belt and its alined shoe, and means for independently adjusting each of said single supports.

11. A folding machine having, in combination, a pair of lower belts. laterally adjustable frames for said belts. a bracket ronnected with each of said frames and lat.- erally adjustable relatively thereto. an upper belt carried by each bracket, and means cooperating with said belts for folding blanks carried thereby.

12. A folding machine having, in combination, a pair of lower belts, laterally adjustable frames for said belts, an arm carried by each of said frames and having a guide, a bracket mounted in each of the guides, an upper belt carried by each bracket, a screw for adjusting each bracket in its guide. and means cooperating with the belts for folding blanks carried thereby.

18. In a machine having blank carriers and folding devices for deflectng marginal portions of the blanks toward each other, a blank guiding member having tapering rolls mounted to rotateon inclined axes.

14. In a machine of the character described, a blank-forwarding belt, a series of tapering rolls mounted in a row parallel withsaid belt, the ends of the rolls having the greater diameter being in a plane at an acute angle to the plane-'of the belt, and means for folding marginal portions of the blanks toward and over said rolls.

15. In a machine of the character described, a blank-forwarding belt, a series of taperin rolls mounted in a row parallel with said elt, the ends of the rolls having the greater diameter being in a plane atan acute angle to the plane of the belt, and a folding belt for turning marginal portions of the blanks toward and over said rolls.

16. 1n a machine of the character de` scribed, al blank-forwarding belt, an elongated shoe above-said belt for holding and guiding blanks, said shoe having tapering anti-friction rolls mounted to rotate on in` clined axes, and means for folding blanks over said rolls.

17. In a machine of the character de` scribed, a belt for forwarding creased blanks, means for folding blanks on their creases, and an elongated shoe having a series of tapering rolls mounted to rotate on inclined axes, said shoe being mounted in position to present the sharp edges of the larger ends of the rolls'adjacent to the line in which creases of the blanks travel 18. In a machine of the character described, a belt for forwarding creased blanks, means for folding blanks on their creases, and an elongated shoe comprisingl upper and, lower laterally inclined strips and tapered rolls mounted therein.

19. In a machine ofthe character described,

mediate guide pulleys described herein) in such changing courses as to effect complete folding of the blanks during a lesser length of travel'than can be done with flat acting twisted belts. In this connection the Series of tapering rolls 81 aid in shortening the machine because they permit a rapid inward folding of the flap Y; toward position to be finally laid under the fiap c (Figs. 9 and 10).

While the blank is travelling from the point indicated in Figure 9 toward that of Figure 10, the Hap b is folded in to an angle of nearly 45o because the pulley 100 (Fig. 1) is so set as to deflect the belt 97 inward. After the blank passes the point indicated in Figure 10, the belt 97 which is still travelling inwardly begins to travel downwardly (Fig. 11) so as to bend the Hap 5 well down. In the mean time the belt 85 has continued to only hold the flap c substantially upright until passing from the point indicated in Figure 10 to that in Figure 11 during which time said belt 85 is directed downwardly and inwardly to fold the Hap c over the inwardly moving fiap b. Between the points indicated in Figures 11 and 12 the belt 97 is guided down to complete the fold on that side, and the belt 85 is guided in and downto complete the fold on the other side.

As the pulleys for the folding belts 97, 85, are all adjustable and especially independently adjustable, said belts can be so relatively positioned and have their operative stretches so flexed to travel in different planes and different lateral positions, that the relative timing of the folding of the two flaps can be varied to whatever is best for the particular sizes or qualities of blanks operated upon.

From the deliver end of the mechanism shown herein the folded blanks'pass, as .is usual with such machines, to other mechanism which includes presser rolls and belts to compress the overlapping margins of the aps b, c, and hold them in firm contact until the glue has set. As such pressing mechanism forms no part of the present invention we do not illustrate it. An important feature of our invention however consists in the curved lfinger 103 which constitutes a yieldingly mounted guide solocated as to exert a yielding pressure upon that portion of the folded box which includes the glued seam or joint, and to continue that pressure to prevent the seam springing open while passing from the foldingbelts to the-said final (and not shown) pressing and stacking mechanisms. As shown-by comparing Figures 1, 3 and 16, the finger '103' has a widened portion formingwhat may be described as a shoe 110 having an Vupturned rear edge 111. The shank of said finger is reduced in thickness as at 112, so thatsaid shank` can extend between the pulleys 27, 86, atvouel side of the belt 85. The widened or'shoe part 110 then belts and projects laterally so as to be directly beyond the pulley 86 and in line with the belt 85 to bear upon the Vseam portions of the folded blanks issuing from between the belts 85, 25. The upturned rear edge 111 of the shoe 110 serves to guide the blanks under the shoe without liability of their catching upon said shoe.

As best shown in Figures 13, 14 and 15, the two rolls 94, 95, coact in so guiding the belt 85 that its height and lateral position are determined positively at a point from which said belt travels toward the roll 96 which latter is so located as to cause the belt to effect completion of the fold under said roll 96. The adjustable mounting of the rolls 94, 95 is so clearly illustrated in Figures 13 and 14 that the details of said mounting need no description, it being sufficient to state that the said rolls can be so adjusted as to ensure an amply wide range of adjustment to take care of practically all kinds and sizes of blanks being folded.

In order that the roll 96 may cause the belt 85 to bear yieldingly on the blanks at the point where folding is completed, said roll is carried by a support 113 (see dotted lines in Figure 3) carried by a bracket 114 ad- 'ustably mounted on a post- 115, a spring 116 eing interposed between the said support 113 and bracket 114. It is to be understood that the roll 102 for the other belt 97 is similarly yieldingly mounted.

We do not limit ourselves to the large puli leys` 29 as the'means for obtainingv such certain frictional driving grip on the two belts 25 as to ensure their being driven atequal speed or, in other words, so that neither one can slip. As shown in Figure17, thelarge pulleys 29 represented in Figure 2 are omitted, and instead thereof we provide rolls 117 under the belts 25 said rolls having their shafts 118 mounted in bearing blocks 119 which are acted upon by springs 120 to press said rolls upwardly yto yieldingly pinch the two belts between them and their pullevs 27 so that said belts can not slip As hereinbefore described the pulleys 27 are splined to the shaft 28 which latter is driven by gearing such as indicated in Figure 2.

The two lower belts 25 together constitute a blank-supporting carrier. In fact we do not limit. ourselves to the employment of a divided carrier as for some purposes a single wide belt will serve as well.

Having now-described our invention, we claim:

1. In a folding machine having a plurality of belts and means for foldingblanks carried by said belts, driving pulleys for said belts, and`V means coacting with Said pulleys to grip and frictionally drive the prevent slipping of either of said belts. v l 2. In a folding machine having a plv.-

on said pulleys.

a beltfor forwarding'creased blanks, means for folding the blanks inwardly beyond positions perpendicular to the plane of said belt, and a shoe for keeping control of the blanks'while being so folded, said shoe having a series of tapering rolls mounted to rotate on inclined axes.

j 20. In a machine of the character described, a blank-supporting carrier, a pair of folding belts mounted to present their edges to the portions o-f the blank to be folded,

. and a series of independently adjustable belt guides for each of said folding belts.

21. In a machine of the character described, a blank-supporting carrier, a pair of of folding belts mounted to present their edges to the portions of the blank to be folded, and a series of independently adjustable flanged pulleys mounted in position to defiect said belts vertically and edgewise.

22. In a machine of the character described, a blank-supporting carrier, a folding belt, and a plurality of independently adjustable guides for the operative stretch of said belt to vary its distance from said carrier and to deflect it edgewise.

23. In a machine of the character. de scribed, a blank-supporting carrier, a folding belt, and a plurality of universally adjustable guiding pulleys engaging the operative stretch of the belt to cause it to follow an irregular course to vary its distance from said carrier and its edgewise position at different points of its travel.

24. In a. machine of the character described, a supporting carrier for creased blanks, a pair of folding belts mounted to present their inner edges to the portion of the blanks to be folded, and means for deilecting said belts to cause them to first engage said portions at a distance from the creases and to then shift their folding pressure downward and inward.

25. In a machine of the character described, a supporting carrier for creased blanks, a pair of folding belts mounted to present their inner edges to the portions of the blanks to be folded, and a series ofguiding pulleys for each of said belts to deflect them and cause them to first engage. the flaps of the blanks at a distance from the creases and to then shift their folding pressure downward and inward.

26. In a machine of thel character described, a supporting carrier for-creased blanks, a pair of folding belts-mounted to present their inner edges to the portions of the blanks to be-folded, a series of independently adjustable flanged guiding pulleys for each of said belts to deflect them and cause them to first engage the flaps of the blanks at a-distance from the creases and to then shift their folding pressure downward and inward.

27. In a machine of the character deouZ7,

scribed, a blank-supporting carrier, a pair of relatively narrow un-twisted folding belts mounted to present. their inner edges to the flaps of the blanks to be folded, and a series of independently adjustable rolls relatively located to directI the operative stretches of the belts to different planes of travel and different lateral paths.

28. A box folding machine having a seam pressing belt, a pulley for the delivery end of said belt, and a finger projecting beyond and in line with said delivery end and in position to prevent folded boxes from opening as they leave said end.

29. A box folding machine having a seam pressing belt, a pulley for the delivery end of said belt, and a yieldingly mounted finger projecting beyond and in line with said delivery end and in position to prevent folded boxes from opening as they leave said end.

30. A machine of the character described having, in combination, a blank-supporting carrier, a pair of folding belts, and a yieldingly mounted finger extending beyond the delivery ends of the carrier and belts, and directly in. line with one of said pair, said finger being constructed and arranged to bear on the folded articles after they leave the control of the carrier and belts.

31.v In a folding machine having an endless belt carrier and means for folding blanks supported thereby, a` pair of driven pulleys in close relationship engaging opposite surfaces of the endless belt carrier to ensure uniform travel of said carrier.

32. In a folding machine, a plurality of carrier belts for blanks, folding instrumentalities' for operating on blanks advanced byl said belts, a `driven pulley for each of said belts, and means engaging the other side of each belt to increase the friction between said belt and pulley.

33, A box folding machine having an upper belt to bear on the seam portions of boxes folded in said machine, and a shoe beyond and in direct alinement with said belt to pirevent the folded boxes from opening as they leave said belt.

34. In a machine of the character described, means for causing blanks to travel, a belt for acting upon portions of the blanks to fold them, and a pair of coacting rolls mounted at an ,angle to each other and having their peripheries formed to substantially surround the belt to guide it.

35. In a machine of the character described, means for causing blanks to travel, a belt for acting upon portions of the blanks to fold them, and a pair of coacting rolls mounted at an angle to each other and having their peripheries formed to substantially surround the belt toguide it, means being provided for adjusting the vertical and lateral positions of said rolls.

36. In a machine of the character described, means foi' causing blanks to trave-l, before it reaches the pulley at the delivery a belt for acting upon portions of the blanks end. t0v fold them, a pulley over which said belt In testimony whereof1 we have affixed our 10 passes at its delivery end, and a. yieldingly signatures. 5 mounted roll bearing on the belt at the point where the folding is completed, said roll be- LEON LA BOMBARD. ing located at a point to depress said belt MELVIN H. SIDEBOTHAM. 

